Irish politics has been buzzing after a surprising turn in how Ireland’s leadership described the recent U.S. operation in Venezuela.
Rather than taking a quiet or hesitant stance, Ireland’s deputy prime minister, Simon Harris, made it clear Dublin isn’t using soft language when discussing U.S. actions in Caracas — even if he stopped short of fully endorsing them.
Why Ireland Won’t Call It “Kidnapping”
At a press briefing, Mr Harris pushed back against characterizations that the dramatic U.S. strikes and the overnight capture of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and his wife amounted to a “kidnapping.”
He described the U.S. action as an “operation to remove” Maduro, a leader he said lacked democratic legitimacy and was blamed for narco‑terrorism and widespread suffering in Venezuela.
Removing Maduro: “A Good Thing,” But Complex
Harris didn’t hesitate to say that Maduro being out of power is positive, calling him a brutal dictator who had lost electoral legitimacy and brought misery to many Venezuelans.
However, he also acknowledged that the legal and international law issues around the U.S. operation are complicated, something he described as fair to consider.
He stressed that Maduro wasn’t recognised as Venezuela’s official head of state by Ireland, the EU, or the U.S., and pointed out that Maduro will now face justice through a court system he likely denied his own citizens.
On Sympathy, Dictators, and International Law
When asked if he felt the U.S. should remove other dictators, Harris made a distinction: Ireland didn’t send forces anywhere, but it was difficult for him personally to sympathise with Maduro given his track record.
Still, he acknowledged that from a legal perspective, the situation raises questions about international norms and sovereignty.
Neutrality, Security, and Other Global Issues
Harris also took the opportunity to reinforce Ireland’s stance as a neutral country, noting that neutrality doesn’t mean being unconcerned about security.
He mentioned reports about a U.S. jet flying over Irish airspace to track an oil tanker — a matter he said he wasn’t fully briefed on but assumed was handled under established aviation rules.
He also touched on current global tensions, particularly Russia’s war in Europe, stressing that Moscow is not considered a friend of Ireland.
Greenland and Sovereignty
On unrelated remarks about U.S. threats to annex Greenland, Harris was firm: Greenland is part of Denmark and the EU, and what happens there is for the people of Greenland to decide, a position he said aligns with comments from Denmark’s prime minister.
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